PUNJAB PLANTATION AND MAINTENANCE OF TREES ACT, 1974

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THE PUNJAB PLANTATION AND MAINTENANCE OF 
TREES ACT, 1974 
(VI of 1974) 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title, extent and commencement  
2. Definitions 
3. Plantation of trees 
4. Penalty 
5. Rules 
6. Savings 
 
TEXT 
1
THE PUNJAB PLANTATION AND MAINTENANCE OF TREES ACT, 1974 
(V of 1974) 
[25th April, 1974] 
An 
Act 
to provide for plantation and maintenance of trees in the Province of the Punjab. 
Preamble.– WHEREAS it is expedient in the public interest to provide for plantation 
of more trees and maintenance thereof in the Province of the Punjab; 
It is hereby enacted as follows:– 
1. Short title, ext ent and commencement .– (1) This Act may be called the 
Punjab Plantation and Maintenance of Trees Act, 1974. 
(2) It extends to the whole of the Province of the Punjab. 
(3) It shall come into force at once.  
2. Definitions.– In this Act, unless the context othe rwise requires, the following 
expressions shall have the meanings hereby respectively assigned to them that is to 
say– 
(a) “Department” means the Forestry and Wildlife Department , 
Government of the Punjab; 
(b) “Government” means the Government for the Punjab; 
(c) “land” means which is not occupied as the site of any building in a  town 
or village or has been le t for agricultural  purposes or for purposes 
subservient to agriculture or for pasture , and includes the site of 
buildings and other structures on such land; 
(d) “occupier” means a person in actual physical possession of the land 
and shall also include an owner; and  
(e) “prescribe” means prescribed by rules.  
3. Plantation of trees .– (1) There shall be planted and maintained three trees 
per acre by the occupier thereof in such manner as may be prescribed. 
(2) In case the occupier fails to comply with the requirements of sub -
section (1) the required number of trees shall be caused to be planted in his land by 
the Department without any let or hindrance by  him. The occupier shall be 
responsible for the maintenance of the trees so planted.  
Explanation.– For the purpose of this section,– 
                                                           
1This Act was passed by the Punjab Assembly on 10th April, 1974; assented to by the Governor of the Punjab on 25th April, 
1974; and, published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 25th April, 1974, pages 539-A to 539-C. 
(i) trees already planted and maintained in orchards or otherwise or trees 
that may be planted and maintained in orchards shal l be taken into 
account; and  
(ii) trees required to be planted and maintained may be planted and 
maintained in compact block or otherwise in his holding. 
4. Penalty.– (1) Any person who contravenes the provisions of section 3 shall 
be liable to pay the penalty , not exceeding rupee one per tree, after giving an 
opportunity to the person concerned of being heard, by an office authorized in this 
behalf by the Government.  
(2) The fine imposed under this section shall be recoverable as arrears of 
land revenue. 
5. Rules.– (1) Government may make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act.  
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the forgoing power, such rules 
may provide for all or any of the following matters:– 
(a) the manner in which trees may be planted and maintained; 
(b) kind of trees to be planted in different areas and the period within which 
the trees are to be planted; and  
(c) the procedure for maintaining the record of trees.  
6. Savings.– Government may be notification in the official Gazette, exempt any 
land or classes of land, or any occupier or class of occupiers from the operation of 
this Act.